Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makati and Iloilo

For one person, living is cheaper in Iloilo: $725 a month against $1,230 in Makati, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

59

Cost of Living Index in Makati
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Makati Living Index
35

Cost of Living Index in Iloilo
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Iloilo Living Index

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Makati

🇵🇭 Philippines

$1,230

/mo nomad

Iloilo

🇵🇭 Philippines

$725

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makati and in Iloilo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Makati and in Iloilo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,230 per month in Makati vs $725 in Iloilo, rent included.

Makati $1,230
Iloilo $725

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Makati vs $1,045 in Iloilo, rent included.

Makati $2,137
Iloilo $1,045

A family of three spends $3,044 per month in Makati vs $1,366 in Iloilo, rent included.

Makati $3,044
Iloilo $1,366

Makati costs about 70% more than Iloilo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Makati and Iloilo are more affordable than the global median – Makati 10% lower, Iloilo 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.40 ₱407

$2.76 ₱175

131.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.45 ₱2,449

$18.94 ₱1,206

103.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ₱305

$3.09 ₱197

54.69%

Cappuccino

$2.59 ₱165

$2.04 ₱130

26.96%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₱69.7

$0.67 ₱42.53

62.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₱31.29

$0.33 ₱21.20

48.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ₱152

$1.08 ₱68.6

121.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₱202

$1.76 ₱112

80.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ₱115

$1.64 ₱104

9.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₱80.6

$1.13 ₱71.8

11.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱65.6

$0.82 ₱52.3

25.61%

Eggs

$2.37 ₱151

$1.96 ₱125

20.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.91 ₱440

$6.02 ₱383

14.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 ₱314

$3.95 ₱251

24.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.74 ₱429

$6.21 ₱396

8.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.12 ₱262

$3.15 ₱200

30.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ₱121

$1.03 ₱65.5

84.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.19 ₱203

$2.88 ₱184

10.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱143

$1.42 ₱90.6

58.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₱226

$2.28 ₱145

55.70%

Onion (1kg)

$3.50 ₱223

$2.68 ₱171

30.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱67.9

$1.39 ₱88.3

-23.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱71.7

$0.81 ₱51.7

39.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₱165

$2.96 ₱188

-12.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 ₱500

$6.25 ₱398

25.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ₱82.3

$1.11 ₱70.8

16.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₱123

$1.22 ₱77.6

58.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ₱56.3

$0.21 ₱13.33

319.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.3 ₱3,583

$7.20 ₱459

681.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₱41.46

$0.79 ₱50.5

-17.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.33

$0.32 ₱20.65

-34.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.90 ₱121

$2.28 ₱145

-16.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₱81.4

$1.16 ₱73.9

10.34%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.8K ₱1.3M

$21.2K ₱1.3M

-1.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.9K ₱1.2M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

-1.81%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 ₱9,639

$62.9 ₱4,008

140.49%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.59 ₱993

$9.13 ₱581

70.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.38 ₱1,999

$26.66 ₱1,698

17.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 ₱3,393

$9.52 ₱606

459.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.04 ₱894

Cinema Ticket

$7.22 ₱460

$4.64 ₱295

55.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$776 ₱49.4K

$31.62 ₱2,014

2353.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,391 ₱470.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 ₱3,814

$23.81 ₱1,516

151.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.96 ₱2,354

$17.38 ₱1,107

112.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 ₱5,161

$54.7 ₱3,484

48.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 ₱6,426

$23.87 ₱1,520

322.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 ₱52.8K

$396 ₱25.2K

109.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$429 ₱27.3K

$290 ₱18.5K

47.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,151 ₱137.0K

$1,158 ₱73.7K

85.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 ₱83.3K

$419 ₱26.7K

212.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,714 ₱363.9K

$3,698 ₱235.5K

54.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,568 ₱227.3K

$998 ₱63.6K

257.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$587 ₱37.4K

$200 ₱12.7K

193.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

7.33

2.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makati: October 26, 2026

Last update for Iloilo: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Makati

$429 34.8%

Iloilo

$290 40.1% 32.3% $138

Groceries & Markets

Makati

$227 18.5%

Iloilo

$184 25.4% 19.2% $44

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Makati

$198 16.1%

Iloilo

$99 13.6% 50.2% $100

Clothing & Footwear

Makati

$125 10.2%

Iloilo

$54 7.4% 57% $72

Eating Out

Makati

$121 9.9%

Iloilo

$69 9.5% 43.3% $53

Sport & Entertainment

Makati

$68 5.5%

Iloilo

$19 2.6% 72.2% $49

Getting Around

Makati

$61 5%

Iloilo

$10 1.4% 83% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $829 in Makati versus $396 in Iloilo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Makati are about 2.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Makati versus $19 in Iloilo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $184 – making Iloilo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Makati

🇵🇭 Iloilo

🕒 Local time

15:25 3:25 PM

Same time as Makati

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

582,602

457,626

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

100 PHP = 1.57 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Makati Iloilo 460 km

From you

Makati
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Makati vs Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Makati is pricier by about 70%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,845 per month in Makati and $1,087 in Iloilo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iloilo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $396 there versus $829 in Makati.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Makati and $19 in Iloilo. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,230 in Makati and $725 in Iloilo. That makes Iloilo about 41% cheaper.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Iloilo, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Makati at $1,230. In Iloilo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Makati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Iloilo costs $725 versus $1,230 in Makati. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

If budget matters most, go with Iloilo. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Makati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.